What do you and your family do on Anzac day? My family doesn't do anything particularly special on Anzac day. The most that we do is watch the ceremonies on TV.
Who of your relatives were involved? Where, when? My family members have not fought with or for any Australians or New Zealandersand so we don't celebrate this day.
Why is it important to you and your family? To my family, Anzac day is not a particularly significant day. To me, because I have learnt a lot about it in school, I know the importance and significance it holds for Australians.
Name: Nhan Thanh Le Gender: Male D.O.B: 15 December 1942 Nationality: Vietnamese Age at enlistment: 24 Service occupation: Soldier Civil occupation: Farmer
In 1966, my grandfather fought with the South Vietnamese military forces against the North Vietnamese Cadre. Since numbers were low, enlistment was compulsory for all who were of age. My grandfather enlisted when he was 24. Because of the inexperienced soldiers, military training went on for about a year. He left behind his wife and two children. Unfortunately before a battle, my grandfather stepped on a land mine that left him with severe leg injuries and two toes on his left foot. After four years, my grandfather was able to return home to his family to his family in 1970. My family does not have any of my grandfather’s records because of a fire that happened from the Sino Vietnamese War, burning down his house and all of his records.
ANZAC Story
Rachel Pratt, army nurse.
Name: Rachel Pratt Gender: Female D.O.B: 18 July 1874 Unit: Australian Army Nursing Service, Australian Imperial Force Age at enlistment: 41 Service occupation: Nurse Civil occupation: Nurse
Rachel Pratt, born in 1874, was an army nurse during World War I. In May 1915, at age 37, Pratt enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service, Australian Imperial Force. Prior to this, Pratt was an experienced nurse at the Royal Women’s hospital. 3 months after, Pratt was posted to the Greek island of Lemnos to tend to the wounded soldiers of Gallipoli. After working shortly in Egypt, Pratt was transferred to France at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station in 1917.
On the 4th of July, Pratt was severely injured from the shrapnel of a bomb that exploded. The bomb was dropped near the tent she was working in. At the time, Pratt was tending an injured soldier and despite being wounded in the right shoulder and right lung herself, Pratt went on nursing the patient. For her incredible ‘bravery under fire’, she was awarded the Military Medal and was promoted sister. Her story was featured all over Australian papers and she was admired for her bravery and confidence.
After nearly 4 years of service, Pratt was finally able to return to Australia. At the time of her return, it was reported that the shrapnel was still in her lung. She also personally received a letter from Queen Alexandra.
In 1947, Rachel Pratt was declared permanently incapacitated as a result from her chronic bronchitis, war wounds and neurosis. This eventually led to her death in 1954.
Official record from the Australian Military Force
Merrilyn Lincoln, 'Pratt, Rachel (1874–1954)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pratt-rachel-8099/text14137, published first in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 18 May 2015.
What have I learnt by being involved in this project? I have learnt a lot from this project. I have learnt so much about my family’s past and I have especially learnt so much about my grandfather’s life. Before this project, I hadn’t even known that my grandfather had gone to war. As the first stage of this project, I researched my family tree to look for any family members who may have participated in previous wars. I ended up talking to my parents about family members I never heard much about before. Even though I couldn’t find much information that was useful or relevant to the project, I was glad I could discover more about my family and it was really fun talking to them over Skype. By talking to him about his daily life in military training, I learned of the many hardships he and many others went through. I realised that the problems that are worrying me now pale in comparison to those around that the world.
Has being in this project changed how I think about ANZAC day? Completing this project has not changed my views on ANZAC day but I have realised that many people like to celebrate this event in many ways, whether that be in the privacy of their own homes or publicly through a service. I have also realised that some do not celebrate it at all but still respect the significance of this day. I have also learnt more about how ANZAC day has shaped Australia and why it is considered such an important event in our country.
My ANZAC Story - <LilianL>
What do you and your family do on Anzac day?My family doesn't do anything particularly special on Anzac day.
The most that we do is watch the ceremonies on TV.
Who of your relatives were involved? Where, when?
My family members have not fought with or for any Australians or New Zealanders and so we don't celebrate this day.
Why is it important to you and your family?
To my family, Anzac day is not a particularly significant day. To me, because I have learnt a lot about it in school, I know the importance and significance it holds for Australians.
Table of Contents
My Story
Name: Nhan Thanh Le
Gender: Male
D.O.B: 15 December 1942
Nationality: Vietnamese
Age at enlistment: 24
Service occupation: Soldier
Civil occupation: Farmer
In 1966, my grandfather fought with the South Vietnamese military forces against the North Vietnamese Cadre. Since numbers were low, enlistment was compulsory for all who were of age. My grandfather enlisted when he was 24. Because of the inexperienced soldiers, military training went on for about a year. He left behind his wife and two children. Unfortunately before a battle, my grandfather stepped on a land mine that left him with severe leg injuries and two toes on his left foot. After four years, my grandfather was able to return home to his family to his family in 1970.
My family does not have any of my grandfather’s records because of a fire that happened from the Sino Vietnamese War, burning down his house and all of his records.
ANZAC Story
Name: Rachel Pratt
Gender: Female
D.O.B: 18 July 1874
Unit: Australian Army Nursing Service, Australian Imperial Force
Age at enlistment: 41
Service occupation: Nurse
Civil occupation: Nurse
Rachel Pratt, born in 1874, was an army nurse during World War I. In May 1915, at age 37, Pratt enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service, Australian Imperial Force. Prior to this, Pratt was an experienced nurse at the Royal Women’s hospital. 3 months after, Pratt was posted to the Greek island of Lemnos to tend to the wounded soldiers of Gallipoli. After working shortly in Egypt, Pratt was transferred to France at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station in 1917.
On the 4th of July, Pratt was severely injured from the shrapnel of a bomb that exploded. The bomb was dropped near the tent she was working in. At the time, Pratt was tending an injured soldier and despite being wounded in the right shoulder and right lung herself, Pratt went on nursing the patient. For her incredible ‘bravery under fire’, she was awarded the Military Medal and was promoted sister. Her story was featured all over Australian papers and she was admired for her bravery and confidence.
After nearly 4 years of service, Pratt was finally able to return to Australia. At the time of her return, it was reported that the shrapnel was still in her lung. She also personally received a letter from Queen Alexandra.
In 1947, Rachel Pratt was declared permanently incapacitated as a result from her chronic bronchitis, war wounds and neurosis. This eventually led to her death in 1954.
References
Australian War Memorial n.d., accessed 2015. Web. 17 May 2015.http://anzacsonline.net.au/2012/03/pratt-rachael-mm/Australian War Memorial n.d,. accessed 2015. Web. 17 May 2015.https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/pratt.pdf
Discovering Anzacs n.d., accessed 2015. Web. 17 May 2015.http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/238899
"Discovering Anzacs." n.d., Discovering Anzacs, Accessed May 17, 2015. http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/281501.
Merrilyn Lincoln, 'Pratt, Rachel (1874–1954)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pratt-rachel-8099/text14137, published first in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 18 May 2015.
Nhan, T 2015, pers. comm., 18 May.
Lam, T 2015, pers.comm., 18 May.
Lam, V 2015, pers.comm.,18 May.
Rachel Pratt n.d., Australian War Memorial, accessed 18 May 2015, <https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/pratt.pdf.>.
Reflection
What have I learnt by being involved in this project?I have learnt a lot from this project. I have learnt so much about my family’s past and I have especially learnt so much about my grandfather’s life. Before this project, I hadn’t even known that my grandfather had gone to war. As the first stage of this project, I researched my family tree to look for any family members who may have participated in previous wars. I ended up talking to my parents about family members I never heard much about before. Even though I couldn’t find much information that was useful or relevant to the project, I was glad I could discover more about my family and it was really fun talking to them over Skype. By talking to him about his daily life in military training, I learned of the many hardships he and many others went through. I realised that the problems that are worrying me now pale in comparison to those around that the world.
Has being in this project changed how I think about ANZAC day?
Completing this project has not changed my views on ANZAC day but I have realised that many people like to celebrate this event in many ways, whether that be in the privacy of their own homes or publicly through a service. I have also realised that some do not celebrate it at all but still respect the significance of this day. I have also learnt more about how ANZAC day has shaped Australia and why it is considered such an important event in our country.